Read More

It has launched a campaign in a bid to tackle the problem after it emerged three rail bridges in the East Midlands – this one in Willington, and Chinley in Derbyshire, as well as Hinckley in Leicestershire – are among the most hit in the country.

The three bridges have been struck a total of 210 times in six years, causing hours of disruption and costing tax payers hundreds of thousands of pounds in damages.

The incidents have been in Willington (Image: Diane Stevenson)

New research by Network Rail shows 43% of lorry drivers admit to not knowing the size of their vehicles and over half of them do not take low bridges into account when planning their journeys.

The campaign, which runs until April next year, urges HGV drivers to “check it, rather than chance it”. It will see haulage and public transport industries work together to stress the importance of adhering to height restrictions.

Network Rail has launched an awareness campaign due to incidents such as this (Image: Diane Stevenson) Rob McIntosh, route managing director at Network Rail, said: “I’m sure many people in the East Midlands will have experienced delays due to vehicles striking railway bridges and we appreciate just how frustrating this can be.

A Fullsped lorry crashed into the bridge

“Bridge strikes are completely preventable which is why we have teamed up with key transport industries to raise awareness of the problem and look at ways in which we can work together to reduce these incidents.